Meditation

Meditation is all there is. Whether you are connected to it or not - at all times - is the question.

The Value of the Self

Yoga and Buddhism make it quite clear that dropping the Ego/Self is a very important endeavor. If we are not able to drop the Ego, our meditation will never be quite grounded or authentic - instead, it will always have an element of, "look how well I've learned to meditate!" Similarly, if the Ego is not dropped from your yoga practice, an inordinate amount of time and mental energy is going to be spent checking out the other practitioners in the studio & seeing if you're "better" than them!

This is a useless endeavor for multiple reasons. First of all, we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. To use mine as an example, I have flexible hamstrings which helps me with forward bends. But I also have an inner-ear problem which makes standing balance poses very difficult for me! Not only is it not helpful to compare yourself to other students in the class, also try to avoid comparison with yourself. As soon as you start to think about how you did a particular pose better yesterday, you've moved out of the present moment and into the past. So keep that Ujaiyi Breathing flowing, no matter what!

So, after all this talk about dropping the Self/Ego, how do we make use of it? Well, the answer lies not in making use of it for ourselves, but instead for other people. You know the old saying, "never judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes"? It's built on that principle. So, while trying to work with your own Ego to become more calm, peaceful, and accepting every day, you can also use that Ego to generate compassion for those having a difficult day. Use the Ego to think about how you would want someone to respond to you if you were upset. And because everyone is different (& not everyone likes hugs!), sometimes the safest bet is to say something like, "I'm so sorry you're upset. I empathize, and if I can do anything, please let me know."

Beginning to use the Ego to understand others rather than just yourself will open up a whole new world of compassion and empathy for you, as well as for those you share this energy with.

YMCA Vinyasa Int. class, I'll see you all at the Y tonight at 7pm! :)

Life is a Verb

Once again, it's been far too long!!

If you are interested in GREAT deals on massage or Private Yoga Instruction, please email me :)

And now, a little wisdom from Osho for the day:

"In reference to true life all nouns are wrong, only verbs are true. When you say, "This is a tree," you are making a wrong statement existentially. Not lingustically, not grammatically, but existentially you are making a wrong statement, because the tree is not a static thing, it is growing. It is never in a state of is-ness, it is always becoming. In fact, to call it a tree is not right; it is tree-ing. A river is always river-ing."

...We can use this same understanding to deepen our grasp of our poses. Even when we think were are as still as possible in an asana, there is always the movement of life, the movement of breath, the movement of the muscles continuing to relax or engage.... the whole posture is alive with subtle movement and energy. If your breathing is consistent and you are able to turn your attention inward, you will be able to observe this remarkable sensation - the sensation of pure, vibrant life.

Updated Class Schedule!

Hi!
Sorry it's been so long. Some of the old class info is no longer correct... here is the update! I am teaching:
MON & WED 7-8:15pm @ Quest Martial Arts on Packard
SATURDAY 4-6pm @ A2 Yoga on Stadium

Starting THIS FRIDAY (June 5) I will be teaching some FREE CLASSES through the Ann Arbor Free School. We will meet 5:30-6:30pm at Argo, & use the outdoor area right by Les Voyagers. Sessions will meet June 5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th. All are welcome!! If you have questions, please email me or check out http://freeschool.pirateship.org/calendar/2009/06/all

Also, starting JULY 7th, I will be teaching 2 Vinyasa Flow classes at the Ann Arbor YMCA. Both on Tuesday, one at 9:30am, and one at 6:45pm.

Please come and join me for some classes!

New: Yoga at Quest Martial Arts!

Hi everyone,
I'm proud to announce the Yoga program at Quest Martial Arts! Quest is located at
2111 Packard StAnn Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 332-1800
www.quest-martialarts.com

My sincere thanks to Mr. Keith Copeland as co-founder of the program.

Our classes are going to start THIS COMING MONDAY (May 11th), and the schedule will be:
Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:45 - 7pm and 7:15 - 8:30pm
Contact Quest to sign up!

Also, don't forget....OTHER CLASSES going on:
Fridays from 6 - 7pm at the Dakota Building
Saturdays from 4 - 6pm at A2 Yoga

Hope to see you soon!

The Golden Rule

THE GOLDEN RULE FOR LIFE
Is that there are no golden rules.
There cannot be. Life is so vast,
so immense, so strange, so mysterious,
it cannot be reduced to a rule or maxim.
All maxims fall short,
are too small;
they cannot contain life
and its living energies.
Hence the golden rule
is significant, that there are no golden rules.
An authentic human being does not live by rules, maxims,
commandments.
The authentic human being
simply lives.

---Osho

No yoga @ the Dakota Bldg. tonight

Due to a graduation ceremony, there will be no 6-7pm yoga at the Dakota Building this evening. My apologies; please join us next week.

Quote of the Day

"The only authentic responsibility is toward your own potential, your own intelligence and awareness - and to act accordingly. Values should not be imposed on you. They should grow with your awareness, in you."

Have a moment of enlightenment every day

Nirvana (enlightenment) and Samsara (the world of suffering) are one and the same, the Buddha tells us. This same sentiment is echoed when Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is here among us. And the Biblical phrase "this too shall pass" ties in directly with the idea of impermanence. On the surface, the idea of impermanence & the Biblical phrase may seem obvious, but they speak a very deep truth that can only be understood when it is experienced. Because each moment will pass irretrievably, each moment is more precious than gold and should be experienced with awareness and an open heart.

Even our pain and struggles in life deserve this loving attention. It may seem easier to try to run from the pain, but if you remain still and remember that it, too, will pass, these struggles can lift us up higher. All of us can remember times that were difficult but that we are now grateful for, because of what we learned or how our lives were changed. Enlightenment does not mean escape from pain and suffering. It is a mental shift that gives room for both the bad and the good in life. Once we stop expecting the world to be perfect & to make us happy, we find that there is already a well of happiness and loving-kindness inside, and that is what we're really looking for when we're searching for happiness.

This is why all the great spiritual teachers ask us to look within, rather than outside ourselves. The kingdom of heaven is among us and within us. And you don't have to be an enlightened master to have one, two, or many moments of enlightenment throughout the day, every day.

Quotes of the Day

"Meditation will bring you sensitivity, a great sense of belonging to the world. It is our world - the stars are ours, and we are not foreigners here. We are part of it, we are the heart of it. And this sensitivity will create new friendships for you - friendships with trees, with birds, with animals, with mountains, with rivers, with oceans, with stars. Life becomes richer as love grows."


"Life is not a tragedy, it is a comedy. To be alive means to have a sense of humor."

--Osho

NEW CLASS!

Please come join me as we try to get this new class up and running. It will be an awesome Vinyasa Flow class drawing heavily on the elements and theories of Ashtanga practice to inform it. 

The class will start THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 24th, from 6-7pm, at the Dakota Building on Stadium near Pauline. We hope to make it a permanent part of the "Mind, Body, Spirit Academe" that is being run there, which also includes other classes such as dance and martial arts.

You can check out their website here: http://www.mbsacademe.com/about.html  

(my class is not up yet)

Pass the word around... once again, Friday from 6-7pm. 

Head into your weekend feeling wonderful. 

I promise a mini-Thai-massage and shoulder/neck/head rub in Savasana to everyone who shows up :)

Please email me with any questions! 

lindsay[dot]yoga[at]gmail[dot]com

Body, Mind, & Spirit Wellness on S. State

Hi all,
This morning I had the pleasure of touring the new Body, Mind, Spirit Wellness Center (2007 S. State Rd., sort of near the Produce Station. This is a different center than the one with a similar name on Stadium by Pauline). The new center is beautiful, and they are having a Grand Opening Event running from Wed. April 2nd through Sun. the 26th. There's a lot of amazing stuff going on there - yoga, meditation, massage, music, capoeria... you should check out their website at www.bmswc.com (or call them at 734.945.8602) if you have questions about the opening events.

Also, I was hoping to start teaching regular classes there, but it looks like that's not going to work - at least, not yet. I would love to hold some workshops there, because it is a beautiful space with good energy. So, here is my question: WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO A YOGA WORKSHOP WITH ME THERE? I'm open to suggestions - more (or less) intense, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Partner Yoga... pretty much anything that would please my students. I'd like to see if I can get one together in the next few weeks. So, if you actually read this blog, please leave a comment, and otherwise I hope to catch you at the studio and spread the word.
Namaste!

Just be

"This constant desire for 'knowing' and for 'improving'... that is just the ego's distracting game. Simply be how you are, whenever you are, and you will realize that you already know everything there is to know about this great universanl woven fabric you are a part of."
-Osho

Yoga at work - part 2

As humans, we lable things. That's how we communicate; how language was first formed. We even have lables of our own (usually chosen by our parents, but one can always get creative later in life ;) )

So at work, it makes perfect sense that we lable things here, too. Some of them are useful at times. Your "To Do" box tells you what needs to get done. But, as we all know, feelings of apathy, boredom, feeling depressed or overwhelmed, or sheer panic can set in when looking at that In Box. Here is a little exercise to try the next time that happens.

First of all, take just ONE thing out of your In Box. You can only deal with one thing at a time, and for now, it is this. Now, especially if it's something you don't want to do, pretend you're doing it for someone else. Don't lable it as anything unpleasant. Instead, give it an imaginary lable like "very important document". Imagine that you've just done your best friend in the world a very nice favor, taking care of that important document. How does that feel? Much better than still staring at it in the In Box, right?

Now, I know this exercise is imaginative, and silly to some extent, but in another way it makes perfect sense. Every time you complete a difficult or unpleasant task at work, you ARE doing a friend a favor - yourself. You will reduce your stress level, feel more able and competent, and begin to see that by applying yourself meditatively even to those tasks that aren't your favorite, you are contributing to your place of work (even if this is home), which in turn contributes to the whole Universe. And who doesn't want to show up to work to help the whole Universe? :)

Work as yoga (part 1)

I've been pondering this topic for a while now, and haven't written anything yet because I want to be helpful, not just a string of observations. Although I suppose sometimes those can be helpful too :)

Basically, what I've been noticing is that humans are very good at switching into an "on" state, as I'll call it for now, but then we drift back "off" without that same realization or immediacy. For example, remember a toy that you really, really wanted as a child? How visceral the desire was? And how delighted and engaged we were if we did get the toy? But then, without our even realizing it, our interest in the toy began to wane, as life moved forward and other things became important.

When we first start to practice yoga or meditate, I think we are very much like excited children. We often think, "this is IT!" This is going to be the enlightenment I've been searching for, this is going to be the end of my troubles. Even though we know it is irrational, we secretly hope to be hit by that lightning bolt of eternal joy and wisdom. For some people, just one yoga or meditation session is proof enough that "this stuff doesn't work". Their mind still felt busy, maybe even worse, they were physically uncomfortable, etc. It's ok. Not every practice is for every person. But for those who came back again and again, despite the fact that the lightening bolt never came.... they started to notice something extraordinary. The lightening bolt is there ALL THE TIME. It is our life force, our prana, our connection to vitatlity. We can stay connected to it and live an illuminated life! But through routine and inattention, we often let it slip away.

And work, especially offices, are wonderful breeding grounds for routine and inattention. In fact, they practically beg for it. And that is why, my yogis, this can be your greatest practice of all. Start simply. Become aware of your surroundings. What does your office feel like? Sound like? Now become aware of breathing, sitting right there at your desk. How does that feel? Do things slow down? Can you reconcile breathwork with officework?

Your next task is mini-meditations. You can do these seated, or use walking meditation to get up from your desk. Every hour, devote one minute to meditation; to just watching the breath. If you walk as you do this, to the water cooler for instance, don't get lost in your own head. Instead, become more aware, inhaling and exhaling peace and goodwill toward everyone in your office. Over time, the goal is to stretch out these mini meditations, and begin to watch the breath while doing work tasks such as typing, etc. In this way, we can literally create an 8-hour meditation challenge for ourselves! I'm not saying that's what you have to do, but I am trying to promote the idea that you can meditate any time, anywhere.

Next up: dealing with money as a spiritual practice?
Namaste.

...and coming soon...

An article about how to integrate yoga into your workday, particularly if you work a desk job. Thanks very much to reader Art for the suggestion! Any more suggestions, questions, etc., feel free to email me at:

lindsay[dot]yoga[at]gmail[dot]com

Namaste :)

The Best... you already are

Continuing with the theme from Friday's post about what it truly means to be "the Best" (vs. what our culture has constructed as 'best').

It has been noted by psychologists that very bright and talented children often have very high levels of anxiety and low self-esteem. Why should this be so, when they are obviously talented, often more so than their peers?? It turns out that the reason is because these special traits and talents are so focused on by the adults in their lives, that these children feel that not knowing something or just being ordinary at something is a failure in some way. Subconsciously, those proud and loving parents are sending their child the message that they will be unlovable if they are not perfect. They must always be The Best in their parents' (and teachers', etc.) eyes.

Even if we were not one of those few talented children who could memorize pi to 40 digits or some other amazing feat, we have all felt that fear of, or actual rejection by, a parent or other authority figure for failing to live up to expectations. As small people, we were taught that we were being "prepared for life", and if we did not learn the lessons well enough, we would ultimately fail at life (or some other such threat, spoken or implied). But guess what? As children, as small people, we were not preparing for life. We were living life. And, along with the wonderment, we learned some harsh lessons along the way. As we grew up, we wondered: how can I be successful? How can I make my parents happy? How can I make myself happy? How can I be good enough?

Well, the answer, happily, is that you already are good enough, and you always have been. Your parents' pressure on you as a child, intentional or not, has no bearing on you or your inherent 'goodness'. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and therefore don't need to be perfect at anything! That's one of the big pros about living in a society where you know and are connected to your neighbors and/or other community. So put your talents to use, whatever they are, and graciously accept the help of others when you need to. This has no bearing on your status; your self-esteem - you are already, in the words of the Tejobindu Upanishad, your "Shining Self".

[...trying to find a link to the Upanishad for you, but no luck! Anyhow, the opening lines are:

Let us meditate on the Shining Self

Changeless, underlying the world of change

And realized in the heart in Samadhi.]

What does it mean to "Be the best"?

In Western culture, we are taught to compete to be the individual best in almost everything we do. That is why it is so difficult to drop that competitive mind-set during yoga, both with yourself and others. But all that energy spent on a "competitive edge" takes the practitioner out of the moment and into a realm of separation and contest. Use your yoga practice to practice dropping that need to be the best. Let your practice flow naturally. Being open and present, even when things do not "feel perfect", is in itself the greatest perfection.

"The best, like water,
Benefit all and do not compete.
They dwell in lowly spots that everyone else scorns.
Putting others before themselves,
They find themselves in the foremost place
And come very near to the Tao.
In their dwelling, they love the earth;
In their heart, they love what is deep;
In personal relationships, they love kindness;
In their words, they love truth.
In the world, they love peace.
In personal affairs, they love what is right.
In action, they love chosing the right time.
It is because they do not compete with others
That they are beyond the reproach of the world."
--Lao Tzu

Non-compete clause ;)

"The best, like water,
Benefit all and do not compete.
They dwell in lowly spots that everyone else scorns.
Putting others before themselves,
They find themselves in the foremost place
And come very near to the Tao.

In their dwelling, they love the earth;
In their heart, they love what is deep;
In personal relationships, they love kindness;
In their words, they love truth.
In the world, they love peace.
In personal affairs, they love what is right.
In action, they love choosing the right time.
It is because they do not compete with others
That they are beyond the reproach of the world."

-Lao Tzu

Quote of the Day

"True strength is always gentle."

-Lao Tzu